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Lakers suffer another heartbreaking loss in Phoenix

PHOENIX — Don’t let the late comeback attempt fool you. Or Luka Doncic’s absurd shotmaking. Or the team’s late uptick in hustle, physicality and energy.

Because if the Lakers played with the level of intent they did in the final 6 ½ minutes of Thursday’s matchup against the Suns for the entire game, they wouldn’t have been in the position they were in in the first place.

Instead, they were late to the party, with Royce O’Neale’s game-winner 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left and Austin Reaves’ wide-open missed corner 3 at the buzzer sending the Lakers out of Mortgage Matchup Center with a 113-110 defeat for their third straight loss. 

Royce O’Neale of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with Collin Gillespie after making the go-ahead three-point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the final seconds of the second half. Getty Images

It’s the second straight game they lost late after being one of the league’s best clutch teams, following Tuesday’s home loss to the Magic. 

“We were supposed to win,” Marcus Smart said. “We did everything right. We were healthy. We’re playing well, and we let our foot up, and they made us pay for it. And those are the ones that get us.”

Doncic finished with a game-high 41 points on 12-of-21 shooting to go with eight assists and eight rebounds. He scored 14 points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth.

But the Lakers, who were facing a short-handed Suns team that was missing their two best players in Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, shouldn’t have needed his scoring output the way they did.

But the Lakers weren’t tenacious enough on the glass, with Phoenix grabbing 15 offensive rebounds.

And they were slow closing out to shooters, leading to the Suns shooting 44% on 3s (22 of 50). 

“The thing we talked about [Thursday] morning was trying to limit their lasers and not just in makes, but in terms of attempts,” coach JJ Redick said. “It’s the reason we didn’t play a ton of zone [defense], didn’t play any zone. We made some adjustments with our fives. Had them in coverage for most of the game; they ended up getting some good looks. Went to 15. They got some transition 3s.

“You have to defend for 24 seconds. So that starts in transition and then they’re just gonna keep playing and get to multiple actions and, and that’s the part that I think that just hurt us a lot. Just being able to keep up with their pace and their speed.”

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic backs down Collin Gillespie in the first half. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

What it means

The Lakers are on their first three-game losing streak since early January, and have lost five of their last seven games. 

They’re 34-24 on the season and clinging onto No. 6 in the West, just one game ahead of the No. 7 Suns in the standings.

Turning point 

A cop out would be to say there were too many critical moments that the Lakers lost to choose just one.

But of all of the embarrassing moments, one stood out among the rest: when Ryan Dunn, who was the furthest away from the Lakers’ basket after contesting a missed Luke Kennard 3-pointer, beat every Lakers player down the floor to make himself available for a wide-open dunk in transition.

The Suns went up 96-86 after the dunk, with the Lakers calling timeout. 

Grayson Allen and Rasheer Fleming of the Phoenix Suns high-five during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

MVP: Grayson Allen

Allen led the Suns with 28 points, including 16 in the third the Suns took control of the game.

He and Collin Gillespie made six 3s apiece.

“We just got to do a better job at getting to bodies and forcing them inside the three-point line when that happens,” Jake LaRavia said. “It starts with physicality.”

Stat of the game: Five

Thursday was just the fifth time this season the Lakers lost a game after shooting at least 50% from the floor.

They entered Thursday with a 24-4 record in games they made at least half of their shots.

Up next

The Lakers travel to San Francisco for a nationally-televised matchup against the Warriors on Saturday at Chase Center.

The statuses for Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton weren’t known as of Thursday evening after they missed the Warriors’ road win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday. 

The Lakers are hoping to get Rui Hachimura back in the lineup after he sat out of Thursday’s game because of an illness. 

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Yankees news: Giancarlo Stanton can’t open a bottle due to pain, wants full season

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees warms up during team workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 17, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NJ.com | Randy Miller: Giancarlo Stanton is obsessed with winning a World Series with the Yankees. It’s too bad his elbows keep getting in the way. In an interview with Miller, the slugger explained why he didn’t want to undergo surgery to address the chronic tendinitis that is still affecting him, and reminded the world that he can’t open a bottle or a bag of chips. However, he clarified that he wants to play a full season and take home the trophy. As his 158 wRC+ and 24 home runs in 77 games last year proved, Big G can still mash with his current condition.

SNY | Alex Smith: The Yankees beat the Braves 7-3 on Thursday, with another solid outing by Elmer Rodríguez and home runs by Paul Goldschmidt, Spencer Jones, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Rodríguez allowed two runs in three innings of work, striking out four and walking one. His changeup looked on point; he got seven whiffs and his spring ERA now stands at 3.00.

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Spring training star Ryan Weathers changed his offseason routine with the intention of staying healthy. The new habits, explained in detail by Phillips, involve the elimination of “some lifting patterns in the weight room” and the implementation of “more ground-based rolling exercises that, with the help of a foam roller, focused on his spine.” Yankees fans are praying to every god they know for these habits to pay off, because he is looking fantastic on the mound.

CBS 58 News Milwaukee | Kathryn Merck: Retired MLB umpire Bruce Froemming, whose career spanned from 1971 to 2007, passed away on Wednesday, aged 86. He umpired the third-most games in league history, and spent most of his career in the National League. His strike call was unique, and he is best known by Yankees fans for being the umpire who ejected Billy Martin in Game 4 of the 1976 World Series. Rest in peace.

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Takeaways: Penguins Pounce Devils In First Game Without Crosby

If anyone was worried about the Pittsburgh Penguins coming out of the Olympic break without their best player and captain, this team sure had something to say about it when they faced the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. 

Despite coming out of the break without the services of Sidney Crosby, who sustained a lower-body injury during the Olympics that will keep him out around four weeks, the Penguins came to life in the third period of Thursday's game to beat the Devils, 4-1, in Pittsburgh. 

Penguins' goaltender Arturs Silovs - who played for Team Latvia at the Olympic games in Milan - was outstanding, allowing just one goal on 29 shots and staving off some early pushes by New Jersey. Tommy Novak, Connor Clifton, and Egor Chinakhov got on the board for the Penguins before Blake Lizotte added a shorthanded empty-net goal at the end of the game to cap it off.

Pittsburgh was first to get on the board, as a late power play goal by Tommy Novak - a shot from the point by Kris Letang that was tipped on the way in by Novak - in the opening frame gave them the 1-0 lead. With a power play in the first part of the second period, though, the Devils started to gain a bit of momentum, and shortly after that man advantage, Paul Cotter tipped a Dougie Hamilton shot at the net-front to tie the game.

The Penguins and Dan Muse challenged the play for goaltender interference to no avail - making Muse 0-for-6 this season in coach's challenges for goaltender interference - putting the Penguins back on the PK. Avery Hayes - playing in just his second NHL game - took another penalty midway through the period, too, but the Penguins wouldn't surrender. In fact, they were getting ample chances on their penalty kill throughout the game, including a shorthanded breakaway by Connor Dewar and several other odd-man breaks. 

And this seemed to help turn the momentum back in the way of the Penguins, who were clearly struggling to find rhythm with their four-line attack early on without their captain. 

The Penguins were pressing heavily in the third, and six minutes in, the third line of Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau, and Anthony Mantha was cycling in the offensive zone. The puck came to Ryan Shea at the left point, who pinged one off the crossbar on a heavy slapper. And, luckily, it trickled over and ricocheted off the right wall directly to Clifton, who one-timed it home to give the Penguins the 2-1 lead.

And, just as they have done many times this season, the Penguins quickly built their lead. Just 50 seconds later, Egor Chinakhov took a stretch pass from Evgeni Malkin, breaking into the offensive zone at full speed. He burst in deked backhand to forehand and laid one over the pad of Jacob Markstrom to put the Penguins up, 3-1.

New Jersey got a few opportunities later on, but nothing Silovs couldn't handle - even on the late penalty kill that Lizotte scored his shorthanded empty-netter on.

"It was huge," Clifton said. "I don't think we were very good in the first. We weren't very sharp. But we had a long [what felt like] training camp for the past couple weeks here. It felt like a long time. But I thought in the second and third, we were good, man. We didn't miss a beat.

"So, yeah, obviously we were playing really good before the break, and we got that long break, but we're right back in it. So, another big one on Saturday."

Here are a few thoughts and takeaways from this one:

- This was the best game that Clifton has played as a Penguin. And he earned that goal.

Not only did he finish the game with a team-high seven hits - as he often does - he scored the game-winning goal and made several big defensive plays throughout the evening, including a stick play in the blue paint at the end of the first period that prevented a New Jersey goal. 

Clifton is well-liked in the locker room, and he has been playing much better hockey as the season has bore on. It was good to see him rewarded in this one.

Crosby Addresses Injury, Talks Olympic ExperienceCrosby Addresses Injury, Talks Olympic ExperiencePittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby reflects on his time at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and discusses the confidence he has in his team to make the playoffs while he's out four weeks with a lower-body injury.

- Aside from Clifton and Silovs, I thought the best players in this game were Ben Kindel and Erik Karlsson.

Karlsson was simply outstanding, and it was easy to tell there was carryover from the Olympics. He didn't end up on the scoresheet and was a plus-1, but his defense was what really stood out in this one, especially in the first period, when the Penguins and Silovs were under siege for a bit.

Then, there's Kindel. I'm running out of adjectives to describe this guy, and with Crosby out longer-term, I don't think it's going to be long before he sees an elevated role in the lineup. Everything comes so natural to him, and he's so good in all three zones. If I'm the Penguins, I'm also putting him in Crosby's spot on the first power play unit - because he is the one who directs the traffic on a second unit that was very effective Thursday.

There was a play in the first period where the Penguins were in the offensive zone, and Nico Hischier got the puck near the right point. Kindel just took Hischier out and won the physical battle and the puck battle, created a two-on-one opportunity, and put a perfect seam pass on the stick of Brazeau for a scoring opportunity. It was fun to witness.

'On Any Given Night, Anybody Can Step Up': With Crosby Out, Penguins Prepared To Elevate Game'On Any Given Night, Anybody Can Step Up': With Crosby Out, Penguins Prepared To Elevate GameWith the news that Pittsburgh Penguins' star center Sidney Crosby will miss four weeks with a lower-body injury, his teammates are ready to step up in a big way to propel the Penguins to the playoffs in his absence.

- Another guy I'm running out of adjectives for? Chinakhov, who now has nine goals in 19 games with the Penguins, which is a 39-goal pace. In addition, Malkin has six assists on Chinakhov's goals, with five of them being primary assists.

That duo is just magical, and Chinakhov truly has a gift for finishing plays. If the Penguins make the playoffs mostly Crosbyless, they will be a huge reason why.

- I mentioned it in passing before, but this penalty kill is simply outstanding. Not only did it kill off all six New Jersey opportunities, it is now ranked second in the league at 84.5 percent behind only the Chicago Blackhawks, and it actually spends a fair amount of time in the offensive zone.

You have units that can kill penalties and stymie chances in-zone - which the Penguins certainly do - and then you have units that are a constant threat to take it the other way. The Penguins do both so well, and it makes them a legitimate threat shorthanded.

That's why it kind of makes me wonder if the unit is, at all, a factor in the decision-making for Muse when it comes to coach's challenges. Perhaps the Penguins aren't uncomfortable being shorthanded, so the stakes aren't as high as they would be otherwise if they challenge and lose (situation-dependent, obviously).

Just impressive stuff from them, all the way from Noel Acciari to Karlsson.

With Latest Trade, Kyle Dubas Continues To Create Something Out Of NothingWith Latest Trade, Kyle Dubas Continues To Create Something Out Of NothingPittsburgh Penguins' general manager Kyle Dubas traded for Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Girard on Tuesday, which was the latest in a string of moves that show why he's one of the best in the business

- This was a really, really big win for the Penguins. Not only did it put them seven points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, five points ahead of the Washington Capitals, and maintain their one-point lead on the New York Islanders, it was also a statement win without Crosby. 

Everyone knows what lies ahead. This team has a packed schedule with a high degree of difficulty, and this team found their footing within this game and managed to take over the game completely once their legs were found. And they did it without 87. 

That's a statement that they're not going anywhere, and it's a confidence-booster for a locker room that was already confident. 

So, if you're one who doubts the Penguins' chances without Crosby, just stay tuned. They might surprise you.

Penguins' Players React To Gold Medal Game, Crosby's InjuryPenguins' Players React To Gold Medal Game, Crosby's InjuryOn Sunday, Sidney Crosby's Penguins' teammates reacted to the captain's inability to appear for Team Canada in their gold medal game against Team USA, which the Americans won, 2-1, in overtime to capture their first Olympic gold medal since 1980.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Maxey breaks Iverson’s 76ers 3-point record in 124-117 win over Heat

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey broke Allen Iverson’s 76ers franchise record for 3-pointers, finishing with five 3s and 28 points Thursday night in Philadelphia’s 124-117 victory over the Miami Heat.

Maxey also had 11 assists and helped steady the Sixers after they blew a 16-point halftime lead. Joel Embiid had 26 points and 11 rebounds and Kelly Oubre scored 21 points for Philadelphia, which has won three straight after dropping its previous four.

Bam Adebayo had 29 points and 14 rebounds and Tyler Herro scored 25 points for the Heat, who have lost two straight.

Maxey came in with 882 3-pointers, three behind Iverson, and broke the record with 1:38 left in the first quarter. He made all five of his 3s — a career high for a period — and scored 20 points in the first quarter alone. He finished 5 of 12 beyond the arc.

The 25-year-old Maxey has 887 3-pointers midway through his sixth season; Iverson played his first 10 seasons and parts of two more for the Sixers.

HORNETS 133, PACERS 109

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kon Knueppel broke the NBA rookie 3-point season record and scored 28 points, Brandon Miller had 33 points and Charlotte beat Indiana.

Needing six 3-pointers to top the rookie mark of 206 set by Keegan Murray in 80 games in 2022-23, the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter was 8 of 12 to get to 209 — in just 59 games. Golden State’s Stephen Curry holds the overall record at 402.

The record-breaking 3 came with 9:41 to play in the fourth quarter. Knueppel made a ball fake on Quintin Jackson to get him off his feet, dribbled left and put the shot up. The ball rattled around the rim before going through.

Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick from Duke, helped the Hornets improve to 12-3 in their last 15. They’ve also won their last nine road games.

Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 20 points, and Micah Potter had 19. The Pacers gave up 130 points for the third consecutive game for just the third time in franchise history.

HAWKS 126, WIZARDS 96

ATLANTA (AP) — Newcomers CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert combined for 58 points against their former team, leading Atlanta to a win against Washington.

It was the second of a two-game home series for the Hawks against the team to which they traded Trae Young in January. The Hawks received McCollum and Kispert in exchange — a decision that paid off in this one.

Kispert scored 22 of his career-high 33 points in the first half, subbing in with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter and promptly going 5 for 5 beyond the 3-point arc over the next 10 minutes. He finished the night 6 of 11 on 3-point attempts.

McCollum, who has worked his way into the starting lineup since arriving, scored 25 points and had six rebounds and three assists. The veteran guard made a 27-foot 3 pointer and a subsequent free throw right before half, extending Atlanta’s lead to 75-56.

Dyson Daniels added 13 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and tied a season high with five steals.

Will Riley and Tre Johnson led the Wizards with 14 points apiece. Anthony Davis and Young, who the Wizards traded for earlier this season, were both sidelined with injuries.

SPURS 126, NETS 110

NEW YORK (AP) — Julian Champagnie scored 26 points to lead San Antonio to its 11th straight victory, beating Brooklyn.

Victor Wembanyama had his second straight quiet night offensively, finishing with 12 points, but the surging Spurs had plenty of balance against the lottery-bound Nets. Stephon Castle scored 18 points, De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell had 14 apiece, Keldon Johnson scored 13 and Dylan Harper had 12.

San Antonio (43-16) is on its longest winning streak since it won 13 straight in the 2015-16 season.

Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Nets, who have lost six straight. Reserve Day’Ron Sharpe had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

It took San Antonio all of 13 seconds to take a lead it would not relinquish. Wembanyama won the opening tip and dropped a pass to a cutting Castle for a spectacular two-handed dunk. By the end of the opening period, Castle had 13 points and the Spurs led 36-22.

ROCKETS 113, MAGIC 108

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 26 of his season-high 40 points in the second half and Houston wiped out a 19-point Orlando lead in less than four minutes to beat the Magic.

Reed Sheppard came off the Houston bench to add 20 points, hitting five 3-pointers in the second half. Alperen Sengun had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Desmond Bane led the Magic with 30 points. Paolo Banchero added 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Jalen Suggs, coming off the Magic bench for the first time this season, scored three points in 13 minutes after missing three games with back spasms.

Bane hit all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half, helping Orlando to a 53-43 lead.

The Magic led 76-57 when Banchero converted a steal by Suggs into a dunk with 5:04 left in the third quarter. The Rockets responded with a 21-0 run over the next 3 1/2 minutes. Ryan Sheppard hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points during the run, which left Houston with a one-point lead.

KINGS 130, MAVERICKS 121

DALLAS (AP) — Precious Achiuwa had a career-high 29 points and added 12 rebounds, Maxime Raynaud scored 22 points and Sacramento beat Dallas.

The Kings (14-47) have won two of their last three following a franchise-record 16-game losing streak. Averaging an NBA-low 110.1 points per game, they fell short of a season high by five points.

Naji Marshall scored a season-high 36 points, one short of his career best, and had 10 rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks (21-37), who have lost 11 of their last 13 games and six consecutive at home.

Dallas cut a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to 123-121 with 1:56, but Sacramento scored the final seven points beginning with Achiuwa’s putback off his miss with the shot clock about to expire.

The four Mavericks who were acquired on Feb. 5 in the three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington made their Dallas debuts. They were led by Khris Middleton with 17 points.

TRAIL BLAZERS 121, BULLS 112

CHICAGO (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 27 points and Portland held on for a victory over Chicago for its 11th straight loss.

Toumani Camara scored 16 points, Robert Williams III had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Vit Krejci also scored 14 points for the Trail Blazers, who were without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) for the second straight game.

Matas Buzelis scored 20 points to lead the Bulls, who matched the third-longest losing streak in franchise history. Chicago has dropped 11 straight games in February since last winning against Miami on Jan. 31.

Tre Jones had 19 points as the Bulls fell to 0-5 on their seven-game homestand. Josh Giddey scored 15 points and had nine assists and Nick Richards had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In a game that featured 17 lead changes and 13 ties, Portland pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 15-point advantage — its biggest of the game — at 105-90 on two free throws by Blake Wesley with 9:02 remaining.

PELICANS 129, JAZZ 118

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 42 points, Zion Williamson had 20 and New Orleans beat Utah to open a two-game set.

The teams will meet again in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. The Pelicans, who opened a six-game trip, have won three straight and five of seven to improve to 18-42.

Bey was 14 of 20 from the field, making 5 of 9 3-pointers, and hit all nine of his free throws. Williamson was 9 of 14 from the floor.

Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray added 17 points and nine assists in his second straight game after missing more than a year because of a torn right Achilles.

Ace Bailey led Utah with 23 points, and Brice Sensabaugh had 20. The short-handed Jazz have lost four straight to fall to 18-41.

SUNS 113, LAKERS 110

PHOENIX (AP) — Royce O’Neale made a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining, Grayson Allen scored 28 points and short-handed Phoenix beat Los Angeles after blowing a late 12-point lead.

Allen drove into the lane on the Suns’ final possession before finding Collin Gillespie in the corner. Gillespie quickly swung the ball to an open O’Neale.

L.A.‘s Austin Reaves missed an open corner 3 at the buzzer. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 41 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Reaves’ miss capped a thrilling final few minutes.

The Lakers bounced back from a 12-point deficit with 6:28 left to tie it at 108 on Reaves’ 3-pointer with a minute to go. O’Neale responded with a layup after an offensive rebound to take a 110-108, but LeBron James had a tip-in on the ensuing possession to tie it at 110 with 22.7 seconds left.

Phoenix bounced back from a 13-point deficit early in the third quarter to tie it at 80 going into the fourth. Allen scored 16 points in the third, hitting four 3-pointers.

Gillespie made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points. The Suns shot 22 of 50 (44%) from 3-point range.

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Game Recap: Royce O’Neale hits big game winner, Suns beat Lakers 113-110

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 Thursday night, improving their record to 34-26 on the year, and ending their two-game losing streak.

Phoenix hit 22 threes in the contest, led by Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen hitting six apiece, but the most important three of the night came from Royce O’Neale, who hit the game-winning triple with 0.9 seconds on the clock.

Both teams endured multiple double-digit deficits throughout the contest to set up for a back-and-forth ending. Luka Dončić single handedly was carrying the Lakers late, while the Suns took a more team-oriented approach.

With the win, Phoenix is now just one game back of the Lakers for the last playoff spot and have officially won the season series, something that could prove to be pivotal when it comes to the final standings.

Considering the potential seeding circumstances, Phoenix still down Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker and Jordan Goodwin, and the Lakers playing mostly at full strength, this was arguably the Suns’ most impressive and important win of the year.

Game Flow

First Half

After a lackluster few offensive performances, the Suns got off to a strong start offensively, scoring nine points in the first three minutes of the game. The ball movement was strong, and the team was getting to the rim. Phoenix built an early 17-9 lead that forced a Los Angeles timeout. After the breakm the Lakers went on a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game. Luka Dončić started to get into a rhythm, having himself a 12-point first quarter.

As the Suns continue to battle the injury bug, Suns who don’t typically touch the rotation got a chance to contribute early on, including Rasheer Fleming and Amir Coffey, but weren’t making much of an impact as the Suns ended the quarter allowing a 18-5 run to Los Angeles.

At the end of 12 minutes, the Lakers led the Suns 27-22.

Phoenix retook the lead with an 8-2 run early in the second, Grayson Allen and Collin Gillespie were running the ship. The hot start to the second was a “necessary response,” to the Lakers end to the first quarter, as Suns Broadcaster Kevin Ray put it. Phoenix started the second hitting 7/8 first shots, with the bench scoring 10. They were able to build multiple double-digit leads.

After a hot offensive start, the Suns started to struggle offensively, allowing the Lakers to end the second. Phoenix scored just four points in the final 4:56 of the half.

It was 49-49 going into the second half. Dončić and Allen were the only players for either team in double digits. It was the first time in the last six games the Suns weren’t trailing after two quarters.

Second Half

The Suns called a timeout early in the third because the Lakers went on a 7-0 run in the first 2:17. The Phoenix offense stayed anemic after the timeout. Los Angeles took their first double-digit lead of the game, leading to another Suns timeout.

Finally, 4:08 into the second half, a Grayson Allen three broke the seal on the basket for the Suns, but it took some time for the team to get in a groove on offense.

Down 12 midway through the third, the Suns went on a 10-0 run, spearheaded by Grayson Allen. The guard hit two consecutive threes, forcing a Lakers timeout.

Allen continued to stay hot from three; Amir Coffey and Rasheer Fleming joined the party, too. Fleming had a strong quarter, hitting multiple threes.

After being down as much as 12, the Suns and Lakers were tied at 80 heading into the fourth quarter.

Phoenix carried their strong end to the third into the fourth, going on a 15-5 run to start the fourth, and the Mortgage Matchup Center was getting amped up.

Just like the Suns stayed resilient when they went down, the Lakers did too. Phoenix was up as much as 12, but Dončić almost single-handedly brought the Lakers back ahead.

With 22 seconds, the game was tied at 110, and Phoenix had the ball. Grayson Allen took charge of the offense, and this happened:

It was a fitting ending to what was an extremely hot shooting night for the Suns, who went 22/50 from behind the arc to end their two-game losing streak. Grayson Allen led the team with 28 points and six threes, Gillespie chipped in 21 and six triples, but O’Neale hit the biggest three of them all. O’Neale scored the Suns’ last seven points to end the game.

Up Next

The Suns will have a five-day break between games. They’ll face the Kings for their first game of March on Tuesday, the third. Sacramento has the worst record in the NBA.

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Manny Machado blasts two home runs, Padres fall to Reds, 11-10

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hits a grand slam home run in the sixth inning during the spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on February 26, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Manny Machado got his first two hits of Spring Training in dramatic fashion on Thursday. Machado came to the plate with the San Diego Padres trailing the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1 in the top of the third inning and blasted a two-run home run to left to tie the game, 3-3. He then watched the Reds put up six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and returned to the plate in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game again. Machado did just that with a grand slam to center field that tied the game, 9-9. In the end, Cincinnati was able to scratch out one more run than San Diego and Machado and the Padres dropped the game at Goodyear Stadium in Goodyear, Ariz., 11-10.

The Reds won the game, but Machado was the top story from the Padres side. He was quickly followed by Sung-Mun Song who recorded his first hit in MLB action on a 96.5 mph cutter from Cincinnati reliever Graham Ashcraft, which resulted in a single to start the six-run top of the sixth inning. The base hit was a step forward for Song, who admitted in a recent report he was going to need some time to adjust to pitch velocity in the majors. Song also worked two walks in the game.

With all the offensive fireworks, the fact that Nick Pivetta started the game for San Diego kind of got lost in all the numbers. He worked two innings and allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout. It was not the outing Padres fans expected to see from Pivetta who was the staff ace in 2025, especially after Michael King looked so dominant in his start against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. However, it was the first start of Spring Training for Pivetta and play-by-play announcers Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn Jr. made note on the broadcast that it appeared the right-hander was working on specific pitches in his outing.

Padres pitchers Miguel Mendez and Justin Yeager each had difficult outings, which resulted in a combined six runs for the Reds. Mendez lasted 0.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Yeager was called on to finish the inning for Mendez and he allowed two runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.

On the offensive side, Machado and Song were joined by Nick Solak, Gavin Sheets, Anthony Vilar, Marcos Castonon, Clay Dungan and Rodolfo Duran who all recorded at least one hit in the game. Duran had two hits, one of which was a solo home run to open the top of the third inning.

San Diego will travel to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to take on the Colorado Rockies on Friday at 12:10 p.m.

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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Utah Jazz: Recap and Final Score

The Utah Jazz lost vital game in the tank-race against the New Orleans Pelicans, with a final score of 129-118.

With this loss, Utah ties New Orleans in the win column, putting the Jazz well within reach of a top-five lottery position. The Jazz and Pelicans are currently on opposite trajectories – Utah is dropping player after player due to well-timed injuries, while the Pelicans are closing the season out with the return of guard Dejounte Murray and the often-injured Zion Williams. Plus, unlike Utah, New Orleans has zero ownership over their first-round pick this year (thanks to Derik Queen, who finished tonight with five points and six rebounds), so tanking doesn’t benefit them anyway.

It will be hard for Utah to catch anyone else. The Sacramento Kings, like the Pelicans, are losing games despite every effort to the contrary. (Just remember, if you ever think you have it rough, you aren’t a Pelicans or Kings fan). And both the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards appear to be immune from the same tanking penalties as the Jazz.

But tonight, the Jazz got the job done. In a season full of putrid basketball, this was a particularly putrid showing by the Utah tonight. Kyle Filipowski and Isaiah Collier had four turnovers each. John Konchar, Brice Sensabaugh, and Elijah Harkless pitched in two each. And in an effort to keep up with the young folk, Kevin Love outdid himself with three of his own turnovers.

Thankfully, fans attending the game tonight got to see one of the better highlights of the season:

Ever since Cody Williams realized he was 21 years-old, 6’ 8” with a 7’ 1” wingspan, and had a 35-inch vertical, he’s been a pleasure to watch. Until his shot comes around, this type of aggression is going to be the only way that he stays in the league.

The Jazz will take on the Pelicans once again this Saturday.

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Brad Marchand scores twice as the Panthers beat the Maple Leafs 5-1

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Olympic silver medalist Brad Marchand scored twice, Evan Rodrigues got the first short-handed goal of his career and added an assist, and the Florida Panthers resumed their playoff push with a 5-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

Marchand now has 27 goals, tying Sam Reinhart for the team lead. Olympic bronze medalist Anton Lundell had two assists for Florida, while Carter Verhaeghe and gold medalist Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Panthers — the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions who began the night eight points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for Florida, which had lost five of its last six games going into the break.

John Tavares scored for Toronto, which started the night six points out of a playoff berth and — like the Panthers — is looking for some late-season magic to get into the postseason. Joseph Woll stopped 31 shots .

Marchand — after watching a celebration of USA Hockey’s Olympic gold medal to start the game, a win that came over his Canada club — opened the scoring just 3:18 into the contest, the start of a three-goal opening period for the Panthers.

It was only the second time this season that Florida scored three times in an opening period; it had four goals in the first 20 minutes of an 8-3 win in Nashville on Nov. 24.

PENGUINS 4, DEVILS 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Connor Clifton and Egor Chinakhov scored 50 seconds apart in the third period and Pittsburgh surged past Jack Hughes and reeling New Jersey.

Tommy Novak, serving as the first-line center while captain Sidney Crosby recovers from a lower-body injury sustained at the Milan Cortina Olympics, picked up his 12th goal of the season. Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter late for Pittsburgh, which has won eight of 10 to move into second place in the crowded Metropolitan Division.

Arturs Silovs stopped 28 shots to win for the fourth time in five starts.

Paul Cotter scored his sixth goal of the season for the Devils but couldn’t halt New Jersey’s slide. The Devils have dropped seven of eight to fall off the pace in the race for one of the Eastern Conference’s two wild-card spots.

HURRICANES 5, LIGHTNING 4

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho banged in a power-play goal through traffic midway through the third period to help Carolina beat Tampa Bay.

Aho’s shot from up top slipped past Jonas Johansson, with Carolina captain Jordan Staal rooted in front of Johansson at the top of the crease to make it 5-4 at the 7:17 mark of the third.

That decided a back and forth matchup of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams, with Carolina jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first seven minutes in its return from the Olympic break only to see Tampa Bay tie it early in the second period.

The game ended with the Hurricanes holding up against the Lightning going with an extra attacker for the last three minutes, with multiple Lightning players diving on the ice to stop Carolina’s repeated attempts at an empty-net clincher until the horn sounded.

Carolina pushed its point streak to 11 games, while Tampa Bay lost in regulation for only the second time since Dec. 18.

BURINS 4, BLUE JACKETS 2

BOSTON (AP) — Viktor Arvidsson scored twice, Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves and Boston beat Columbus in the first game for both teams after the three-week break for the Olympics.

Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly and also scored for the Bruins. Kuraly gave Boston a two-goal lead in the third period, but Columbus pulled within one with six minutes left when Adam Fantilli ripped a shot from the high slot.

The Blue Jackets pulled goalie with Elvis Merzlikins with two minutes left, and Arvidsson scored into the empty net in the final minute.

Kirill Marchenko scored his 20th of the season for Columbus, and Merzlikins made 19 saves.

RED WINGS 2, SENATORS 1, OT

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Dylan Larkin scored in his second goal of game at 1:50 of overtime, John Gibson made 26 saves and Detroit beat Ottawa.

Larkin beat Linus Ullmark with a backhander in the tiebreaker.

Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring in the first period. Ullmark stopped 18 shots.

Detroit tied it at 1 on a power play early in the second when Lucas Raymond fed Larkin at the side of the net for a one-timer past Ullmark.

Just over two minutes later, Simon Edvinsson stepped into Tkachuk, with the Senators forward’s stick bouncing up and hitting him in the face. Tkachuk dropped to the ice, and Dylan Cozens jumped to his captain’s defense. Edvinsson and Cozens were both sent to the box.

Tkachuk returned to the ice before play resumed and skated to the penalty box to confront Edvinsson, drawing a 10-minute misconduct. Once in the box, Tkachuk continued to voice his displeasure.

ISLANDERS 4, CANADIENS 3, OT

MONTREAL (AP) — Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 3:14 into overtime, rookie Matthew Schaefer had two goals in a 55-second span in the second period and New York rallied to beat Montreal.

Schaefer has 18 goals to surpass Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in team history. Schaefer, selected first overall in last year’s draft, also moved past Phil Housley for the most goals in NHL history by an 18-year-old defenseman.

Islanders captain Anders Lee, skating in his 900th game, also scored and Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves to help New York win its third straight. Sorokin improved to 7-0-2 in his career against Montreal.

The Canadiens’ Noah Dobson scored two goals in his first game against his former team. Cole Caufield scored his team-leading 33rd goal for Montreal in the third period and Samuel Montembeault made 23 saves.

BLUES 5, KRAKEN 1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dylan Holloway had a hat trick and added an assist in his return from a sprained ankle, Joel Hofer made 23 saves and St. Louis came off the Olympic break to beat Seattle.

Jordan Kyrou and Holloway — activated from injured reserve before the game — scored in a 23-second span early in the second period to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.

Pius Suter added a goal and two assists to help the Blues end a three-game losing streak.

Holloway completed St. Louis’ first hat trick of the season with 3:01 left, scoring into an empty net for his 11th of the season.

Kaapo Kakko tied it at 1 for Seattle in the first period, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots. The Kraken were coming off a 4-1 loss in Dallas on Wednesday night.

Kyrou made it 2-1 at 1:12 of the second off a feed from Pavel Buchnevich on a break. Holloway poked the puck past Grubauer off a scramble at 1:35. Suter scored at 1:56 of the third.

PREDATORS 4, BLACKHAWKS 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan O’Reilly scored with 3:16 remaining and Nashville scored three times in the third period in a win over Chicago in the teams’ first game following the Olympic break.

Filip Forsberg and Matthew Wood also scored for Nashville. Steven Stamkos scored his 29th of the season into an empty net in the final minute for the Predators, who had lost two in a row and five of their last seven games heading into the break. Justus Annunen stopped 21 of 23 shots.

Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Blackhawks, who have one victory in their last eight games. Spencer Knight made 22 saves.

Forsberg scored unassisted with just over six minutes remaining in the first period. Forsberg, who played for fourth-place finisher Sweden at the Olympics, scored his 25th of the season.

Bedard scored his career-best 25th goal just over four minutes into the second period to tie the game at 1. Ryan Greene had his 14th assist. Bedard had 22 goals in 68 games in 2023-24 and 24 goals in 82 games last season.

FLYERS 3, RANGERS 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Matvei Michkov scored his second goal of the game 2:10 into overtime and Samuel Ersson made 23 saves as Philadelphia rallied to beat New York.

Michkov beat Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin for his 15th goal of the season after the Rangers failed to score on a power play to start the extra period.

Trevor Zegras also scored for the Flyers, who trailed 2-0 early in the second period before rallying for their second win since Jan. 23.

Sam Carrick and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the New York, which lost their fifth straight game. Shesterkin, who suffered a lower-body injury in a home loss to Utah on Jan. 5, made 21 saves in his return. The Rangers are 6-15-5 at home this season.

Carrick opened the scoring at 9:56 of the first, beating Ersson with a shot from long range for his fourth goal. Lafreniere’s 13th of the season made it 2-0 at 1:23 of the second.

Michkov scored on the power play at 10:25 of the second, cutting the Flyers’ deficit to 2-1. Zegras scored 39 seconds into the third to tie the game at 2.

WILD 5, AVALANCHE 2

DENVER (AP) — U.S. Olympian Matt Boldy had two goals and two assists, Filip Gustavsson stopped 44 shots and Minnesota beat Colorado for its sixth straight victory.

In Minnesota’s first game after the Olympic break, Boldy extended his points streak to seven games, and fellow U.S. teammate Quinn Hughes had his team-leading 53rd assist of the season.

Gustavsson improved to 17-2-4 in his past 23 games.

Joel Eriksson Ek had two power-play goals, giving him six goals in Minnesota’s past seven games and 26 points over his past 24 games. Mats Zuccarello also scored for Minnesota.

Martin Necas scored twice for NHL-leading Colorado, which returned from the break Wednesday night with a victory in Utah. The Avs are 5-6-2 in their past 13 after starting the season 33-4-7.

FLAMES 4, SHARKS 1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Nazem Kadri scored two goals and Calgary beat San Jose in the first game back from the Olympic break for both teams.

Connor Zary broke a tie early in the third period when he beat Yaroslav Askarov with a shot for the slot on the rush. Kadri provided some needed insurance when he converted after a defensive-zone turnover by Timothy Liljegren for his second goal of the game.

Mikael Backlund added an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Dustin Wolf, a native of nearby Gilroy, made 34 saves to improve to 10-2 in his career against San Jose.

Tyler Toffoli scored the lone goal for the Sharks, who lost the opener of a crucial six-game homestand as they try to make a playoff run. San Jose began the night five points out of a playoff spot.

Askarov made 25 saves.

OILERS 8, KINGS 1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Connor McDavid secured his ninth 100-point season with a goal and an assist, Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists, and Edmonton snapped its four-game skid with a victory over Los Angeles.

McDavid scored his 35th goal and Draisaitl got his 30th during his fourth four-point game of the season as the Oilers again routed the opponent they’ve knocked out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past four seasons.

Jake Walman scored two goals, Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists, and Ty Emberson, Vasily Podkolzin and Andrew Mangiapane also scored in Edmonton’s impressive rebound from a painful loss in Anaheim. Connor Ingram made 22 saves for the Oilers, who have returned from the Olympic break with 13 goals in two games.

Warren Foegele scored for the Kings, who have lost five straight games since January. Los Angeles’ humiliating third-period collapse against Vegas one night earlier bled into this game: When Hyman scored on a power play midway through the second period, the Kings had allowed 10 goals in their past 41 minutes of play.

Darcy Kuemper gave up four goals on 15 shots before getting pulled early in the second period for Anton Forsberg.

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Suns bludgeon Lakers from three, hand LA third straight loss

Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) moves the ball against Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In a run of frustrating defeats, the Lakers keep topping themselves. Facing a Suns team without either Devin Booker or Dillon Brooks, the Lakers had a horrid defensive showing to drop a third straight game, 113-110.

In another back-and-forth finish, LeBron James tied the game with a putback with just over 20 seconds remaining before Royce O’Neale hit a 3-pointer to win it with 0.9 left.

Phoenix converted on 22 shots from range, outscoring the Lakers by 33 points from three. The Lakers offset some of that by outscoring Phoenix by 12 at the free throw line, but it was a difference too large to overcome.

The game began with O’Neale knocking down a 3-pointer. Both teams exchanged buckets before Phoenix started building a cushion on their lead.

Luka Dončić had five points for LA. LeBron and Austin Reaves combined for four points. Ryan Dunn, meanwhile, scored a fast five points for the Suns. 

Phoenix was leading by eight with LA was in a scoring drought. Los Angeles then heated up with a 14-0 scoring run to take the lead. LeBron and Luka led the run with eight points between them. Luka was the first person on either team to score in double figures with 12 points.

At the end of the first, LA was up by five. 

Grayson Allen knocked down a 3-pointer to open the second period. Marcus Smart was fouled from behind the arc and converted on two of the three free throws. Phoenix jumped ahead by four on a 10-2 scoring run. Reaves scored on a jumper to stop the bleeding for LA. 

At the 7:18 mark, the Suns were up by two. 

Jalen Green drained a 3-pointer, which was followed by a Laker turnover that led to another triple by O’Neale, forcing a timeout as LA quickly found itself down double digits.

Phoenix’s Mark Williams picked up his fourth foul of the half, sitting him down the rest of the way. 

The Lakers put together a good end to the half with an 8-0 scoring run to take a two-point lead until Allen converted on a layup to tie the game at halftime.

LA started the third period scoring seven straight points, which forced the Suns to call a timeout. Out of that break, Phoenix missed and LeBron scored on the other end. 

Los Angeles was on a 25-6 run dating back to the first half. 

Deandre Ayton finally scored his first two points of the night on a lob from Luka to put the Lakers up 11. Allen drained a 3-pointer, helping the Suns finally get a shot to go in. LeBron responded by joining Luka in double figures with 13 points. 

At the 5:07 mark, the purple and gold were up by 12. 

Phoenix snatched the momentum with 10 straight points in under two minutes to make it a two-point game as Allen drained back-to-back triples in the run. He then knocked down another one to tie the game. The threes kept falling for Phoenix, keeping them in the lead despite Luka knocking down one as well. 

Going into the fourth quarter, the game was tied. 

The final frame started with Jaxson Hayes dunking the ball. On the other end, Ryan Dunn drained a triple for the Suns. Kennard scored a quick four in a row for LA. The Suns then went up by 10.

LA left Collin Gillespie open two different times from behind the arc and he drained both. Los Angeles was stumbling and fumbling around, losing all its focus. 

Smart drained a 3-pointer to stop some of the bleeding for the Lakers. Gillespie then responded with another triple. This game was completely taken over by the Suns. Smart completed a three-point play, proving to be the only Laker playing hard in the quarter. 

Luka converted on a three-point play after a great defensive play by Smart. At the 2:57 mark it was a two-point game after back-to-back triples from Luka. Gillespie responded with one himself on the other end. 

LaRavia came up big in crunch time with four points, helping keep Los Angeles in it. At the 1:29 mark, it was a three-point Suns lead.

Reaves tied the game with a 3-pointer. O’Neale’s offensive rebound off an Allen miss, put the Suns back up by two. 

With 22 seconds left, LeBron’s putback of a Smart missed layup tied it again. O’Neale knocked down a clutch triple that put Phoenix up by three with 0.9 seconds. 

The Lakers had a chance to tie it as a great out of bounds play got Reaves an open look to tie, but his shot missed.

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 41 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Reaves notched 14 points with three rebounds and two assists. LeBron ended with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Hayes had six points with eight rebounds. LaRavia pitched in with 11 points. Kennard scored eight points with three rebounds. Smart ended with 13 points and three assists. 

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 5:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

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Bey scores 42 points, Pelicans beat Jazz 129-118 to open 2-game set in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 42 points, Zion Williamson had 20 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 129-118 on Thursday night to open a two-game set.

The teams will meet again in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. The Pelicans, who opened a six-game trip, have won three straight and five of seven to improve to 18-42.

Bey was 14 of 20 from the field, making 5 of 9 3-pointers, and hit all nine of his free throws. Williamson was 9 of 14 from the floor.

Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray added 17 points and nine assists in his second straight game after missing more than a year because of a torn right Achilles.

Ace Bailey led Utah with 23 points, and Brice Sensabaugh had 20. The short-handed Jazz have lost four straight to fall to 18-41.

Utah star Lauri Markkanen was injured in practice Wednesday, and was held out of the game because of a sprained right ankle and right hip impingement.

Starters Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic were shut down for the season following surgeries, and Utah lost Vince Williams Jr. to a torn ACL on Monday night in a loss at Houston.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Sixers Bell Ringer: A big win as Maxey etches his name in 76ers history

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 26: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to becoming the Philadelphia 76ers franchise leader in 3-pointer field goals made during the game against the Miami Heat on February 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 8
Paul George – 6
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain :’( – 2
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

The Sixers came into Thursday night’s game riding the high of a two-game winning streak, that coincided with the return of Joel Embiid to the lineup. The Sixers welcomed Eastern Conference foe the Miami Heat to South Philly for a matchup of teams currently sitting at sixth and eighth in the conference standings, respectively. This game could potentially have postseason ramifications for both teams as far as avoiding the play-in or homecourt advantage in a potential play-in scenario.

The first quarter of this one was back and forth and high scoring as the two teams traded baskets for most of it. The Sixers were carried by Tyrese Maxey, who came out blistering knocking down five triples to set the franchise all-time career record, passing Allen Iverson. Maxey’s 20 points in the first quarter led all scorers as the Sixers took a 36-35 advantage one.

The Sixers continued to scorch the nets in the second quarter, as they created some separation from the Heat. The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid who led all scorers at the half with 21 points. Sixers rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe poured in 12 of his own in the first half. The Sixers took a 73-57 lead to the intermission.

The Heat shrunk the gap in the third quarter behind a 34-point period. The Sixers’ offense tailed off from their scorching first half. Bam Adebayo had a monster quarter as part of a monster game. Adebayo headed to the fourth with 29 points and 14 rebounds. The Sixers took a 99-91 lead into the final frame.

The Sixers held on in the fourth in what was a much slower pace than the first three. Getting 20+ from Maxey, Oubre and Embiid was enough for the Sixers to strengthen their hold on the Eastern Conference sixth seed.

Time for Bell Ringer.

Joel Embiid: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 8-for-20 from the field, 8-for-9 from the line

Embiid used a strong first half to help get the Sixers a sizeable lead in this one that they were able to hold onto down the stretch. Embiid continues his stellar play even in a below-average game for his standards from the field. His presence on both ends continues to show a clear difference in the Sixers’ overall play as opposed to when he is out and they struggle mightily. As always, the plan remains getting the big man to the postseason at full strength.

Tyrese Maxey: 28 points, 11 assist, 4 rebounds, 9-for-26 from the field, 5-for-12 from three

Tyrese Maxey etched his name atop Sixers franchise history tonight as he passed Allen Iverson on the all-time career made threes list to sit alone in the top spot. Maxey poured in 20 of his 28 points in the first quarter as he struggled to find the range and a rhythm offensively for the remainder of the game. Maxey’s work as a floor general was still felt throughout the game as he logged 11 assists on the night to just one giveaway.

Kelly Oubre: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 8-for-14 from the field, 3-for-5 from three

Oubre was huge in this one for the Sixers on both ends as he put in an efficient 21 points. Oubre seemingly always hit a shot or made a key stop right when the Sixers needed it and the Heat were mounting a charge. Oubre with Embiid and Oubre without Embiid continue to look like very different players as the Sixers swingman is able to play more to his strengths when Joel is in the lineup. The Sixers are going to need Oubre down the stretch as they try to climb the Eastern Conference standings and as the postseason approaches.

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No Offense: Devils Drop 5th Straight

There was a point, about midway through Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh, where it kind of, sort of felt as if the Devils might manage to salvage a point, maybe even steal two from the Penguins.

Paul Cotter had scored, an almost water-to-wine level miracle. Jacob Markstrom was playing as well as he has at any point this season. The Devils sure seemed to be spending a lot of time in the Penguins’ end.

But that was more a function of the Penguins playing much of the second period short-handed than anything the Devils did. And, the Devils failed to make Pittsburgh pay for any of the slew of second-period penalties that could have easily turned the game New Jersey’s way.

Instead, the Penguins killed all four Devils’ power plays before scoring three unanswered third period goals to send the Devils to their fifth straight loss.

The Devils have now dropped five in a row for the second time this season. Five-Game Losing Streak No. 1 was the Nov. 29 to Dec. 6 skid that began their free fall from atop the Eastern Conference standings. In the 91 days since, they’ve also managed a four-game winless streak (0-3-1, Dec. 21-Dec. 30) and a four-game losing streak (Jan. 4-Jan. 11).

The current five-game streak dates back to a 4-1 loss in Ottawa on Jan. 31. They’ve also lost seven of their last eight games. A somehow even way more damning stat – the Devils have not held a lead in regulation since Jan.25, when Dougie Hamilton opened the scoring in a loss to Seattle.

Thursday marked the seventh straight game the Devils fell behind 1-0. This time it was Pittsburgh’s previously sputtering power play – the Penguins were on an 0-for-10 drought coming in – that dumped the Devils in a 1-0 hole when Tommy Novak tipped a Kris Letang point shot past Markstrom with 1 minute 9 seconds to play in the first.

Cotter, who hadn’t had a point in 23 games dating back to Dec. 13, got the Devils even at 4:56 of the second.

For some reason, the Penguins decided to challenge the play for goalie interference. This gave the Devils their second power play of the period and a chance to take the lead, but the Devils couldn’t capitalize on the delay of game, or slashing and interference minors to Avery Hayes and Letang later in the period.

Pittsburgh would get goals from Jersey native Connor Clifton and Egor Chinakhov 50 seconds apart early in the third to put the game out of reach. Clifton roofed a slap shot from the right circle over Markstrom at 6:30 and Evgeni Malkin found Chinakhov snuck behind Brett Pesce and Jonathan Kovacevic at 7:20.

Blake Lizotte would pick off a Hamilton pass and score into the empty net at 18:01 to seal the win.

Up Next

The Devils will try to avoid a six-game losing streak when they travel to St. Louis and face the Blues at 5 p.m., Saturday. The Blues are somehow even worse than the Devils. St. Louis (21-28-9) is 30th out of 32 teams. The Blues are 2-7-1 in their last 10. They beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1 Thursday night on a Dylan Holloway hat trick. Holloway had a four-point night.

Your Thoughts

They’re pretty much daring GM Tom Fitzgerald to fire head coach Sheldon Keefe at this point right? Or ownership to fire Fitzgerald and Keefe? Or something? Anything? This has to be close to the absolute nadir in team history. Not even being hyperbolic. There’s the 96 choke job and Tom Chorske’s giant middle finger to Lou and Lemaire, and then. …. That Game 7 collapse to Carolina is up there. This may not be that level of awful, but it’s still horrifying. These guys have completely up and quit, every last one of them. The core guys, who are supposed to be leaders, are just so checked out. I know that at this point they’re better off losing out, picking Gavin McKenna, and starting over next year, but how can this be allowed to continue? . … It’s not just me, is it?

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Rangers blow two-goal lead, fall to Flyers 3-2 in overtime

NEW YORK (AP) — Matvei Michkov scored his second goal of the game 2:10 into overtime and Samuel Ersson made 23 saves as the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Thursday night.

Michkov beat Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin for his 15th goal of the season after the Rangers failed to score on a power play to start the extra period.

Trevor Zegras also scored for the Flyers, who trailed 2-0 early in the second period before rallying for their second win since Jan. 23.

Sam Carrick and Alexis Lafreniere scored for New York, which lost its fifth straight game. Shesterkin, who suffered a lower-body injury in a home loss to Utah on Jan. 5, made 21 saves in his return. The Rangers are 6-15-5 at home this season.

Carrick opened the scoring at 9:56 of the first, beating Ersson with a shot from long range for his fourth goal. Lafreniere’s 13th of the season made it 2-0 at 1:23 of the second.

Michkov scored on the power play at 10:25 of the second, cutting the Flyers’ deficit to 2-1. Zegras scored 39 seconds into the third to tie the game at 2.

Defenseman Adam Fox returned to the lineup for the Rangers.

New York traded top scorer Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 4 and additional trades could come ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. The Rangers are 2-11-2 since winning the Winter Classic on Jan. 2 in Miami.

The Flyers, who lost 3-1 at Washington on Wednesday, have also tumbled in the standings. Philadelphia is 4-9-4 since Jan. 6.

Before the game, the Rangers honored Olympic gold medal-winning players J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, along with head coach Mike Sullivan, assistant coach David Quinn and general manager Chris Drury, the assistant GM of the U.S. Olympic team in Milan.

Drury was loudly booed by the Madison Square Garden crowd.

Up next

Flyers: Host Boston on Saturday.

Rangers: Host Pittsburgh on Saturday.

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Rangers fall to Flyers in overtime as home woes hit new low after Olympic break

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) allows a game-winning overtime goal by Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) during overtime when the New York Rangers played the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY

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tRY IT NOW

For 40 minutes, it looked like a reprieve for the Rangers, the rare night when they could temporarily escape their reality — the cellar of the Eastern Conference — of a lost season, encounter some glimmers of hope and snag a rare home win in regulation.

Even when they blew a two-goal lead, the Blueshirts still started overtime with nearly a full power play.

But with this edition of the Blueshirts, not even that can go right. They watched as Matvei Michkov scored the winner 2:10 into overtime with a gassed power-play unit stuck on the ice, falling 3-2 to the Flyers on Thursday to spoil the returns of defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin from injuries and the returns of J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck from Team USA’s gold medal trip.

The resumption of their season following the Olympic break ended with the Blueshirts (22-29-7) opening a four-game homestand on a sour note.

Igor Shesterkin skates off after allowing a game-winning goal to Matvei Michkov (39) during overtime of the Rangers’ 3-2 loss to the Flyers on Feb. 26, 2026 at the Garden. Robert Sabo for NY Post

“They just didn’t have any juice,” Sullivan said of Fox, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, who were all on the ice for the entire extra frame.

But until it all fell apart, just about everything went right for the Rangers. The night all started with the returns of Shesterkin and Fox, who both took their spots in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 5.

Trocheck and Miller were honored pregame for their gold medal, along with head coach Mike Sullivan (USA head coach), assistant coach David Quinn (USA assistant) and president and general manager Chris Drury (assistant GM) — who was greeted with nothing but boos given the current state of the Rangers team he’s directly responsible for.

Shesterkin, at times, looked like his vintage self. Fox manned his spot on the power play and with the top defensive pairing, though Sullivan said they’re still “capable of another level.”

For Fox, it marked just his fourth game since Nov. 29, as his brief return from a shoulder injury was followed almost immediately by a stint on long-term injured reserve for a lower-body injury. He felt “a little helpless” just watching as The Letter 2.0 — when Drury signaled a retool — dropped and he couldn’t do anything.

“[Fox has] missed a lot of hockey, so it’s gonna take him some time to get into the game speed, the game timing, things of that nature,” Sullivan said. “He’s missed so much time. I would anticipate Foxy getting better with each game that he plays.”

Igor Shesterkin makes a save during the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss at the Garden on Feb. 26, 2026. Robert Sabo for New York Post

Even with the Rangers’ stars acclimating, they still took a 2-0 lead behind unlikely contributors. Fourth-line center Sam Carrick flung a puck from the boards that somehow got past Samuel Ersson for the Blueshirts’ first goal — and his fourth of the season — midway through the third period.

Alexis Lafrenière, in the middle of another disappointing season with his name swirling in trade rumors, scored 1:23 into the second period too.

Shesterkin, until allowing the trio of goals across the final two-plus frames, turned aside shot after shot, including some tricky rebounds.

Three minutes into the second, Carl Grundstrom and Jamie Drysdale had chances that Shesterkin stopped, and another Flyers shot went wide. When Owen Tippett’s shot gave Noah Cates an open lane from the right side, Shesterkin managed to knock the puck away with his glove.

Sam Carrick, who scored a first period goal, gets into a fight with Garnet Hathaway during the first period of the Rangers’ overtime loss to the Flyers at the Garden. Robert Sabo for New York Post

Eventually, Michkov scored his first tally on the power play later in the frame, Trevor Zegras tied it just 39 seconds into the third and Michkov won it with his second after the Blueshirts failed to capitalize with the man-advantage for the third time Thursday.

The Rangers had a chance to push all of their pressing issues aside for another day.

They had a chance to make sure a celebratory night at the Garden ended that way when fans spilled out the exits and onto the streets.

They had a chance to forget that their roster might look entirely different a week from now when the March 6 trade deadline arrives, to still emerge with a win even as young players — such as Noah Laba and Brennan Othmann — received extra chances with the penalty kill because Sullivan wanted “to see what they’re capable of” while using Zibanejad, Miller and Trocheck less in those spots.

That, as much as the Artemi Panarin trade and The Letter 2.0, is a clear sign of a retool.

Instead, by the time overtime ended, their season-long problems had come right back into focus.

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Grant’s 27 points lift Trail Blazers past Bulls 121-112 as Chicago’s skid hits 11

CHICAGO (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 27 points and the Portland Trail Blazers held on for a 121-112 victory over Chicago on Thursday night, sending the Bulls to their 11th straight loss.

Toumani Camara scored 16 points, Robert Williams III had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Vit Krejci also scored 14 points for the Trail Blazers, who were without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) for the second straight game.

Matas Buzelis scored 20 points to lead the Bulls, who matched the third-longest losing streak in franchise history. Chicago has dropped 11 straight games in February since last winning against Miami on Jan. 31.

Tre Jones had 19 points as the Bulls fell to 0-5 on their seven-game homestand. Josh Giddey scored 15 points and had nine assists and Nick Richards had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In a game that featured 17 lead changes and 13 ties, Portland pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 15-point advantage — its biggest of the game — at 105-90 on two free throws by Blake Wesley with 9:02 remaining.

But Chicago scored the next seven points before Camara broke the Bulls' run with two free throws that made it 107-97 with 5:16 left. The Bulls kept coming, though, and cut their deficit to three at 108-105 on a cutting dunk by Leonard Miller.

Grant made a 3-pointer to open a 13-7 closing run by the Trail Blazers, who got a pair of free throws from Camara, Jrue Holiday and Grant to seal the win.

Up next

Trail Blazers: Play at Charlotte on Saturday.

Bulls: Host Milwaukee on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA